1868 Letter to French Minister of the Interior Promoting a Candidate for Appointment to the Prefect’s Committee

On offer is a fascinating piece of correspondence with a Minister of the French Government in the mid- 19th century.

The note card, dated January 9th, 1868, is addressed to Pierre Mange, Minister of the Interior.  The note is a request for him to consider appointing Monsieur Gaston de la Blanche to the Prefect’s Committee following the death of his boss, Benoit Simon Lepaine, who was the Prefect of Pyrenese Orientales. 

The letter reads as follows: 

En mourant Monsieur Lapaine, Prefect de Pyrenees Orientales, a laisse sous emploi Monsieur Gaston de la Blanche, son chef de cabinet. Cet jeune homme etait depuis longtemps propose pour Committe de Prefecture, permettez-mois de vous prie de vouloir bien lui accorde votre ci enveillance personelle. Il appartient a une famille honorable de la Loire a laquelle je porte un real interester je vous serais tres reconnaissant de prendre sa candidture en [] consideration. Mille amities Perriguy

[Translation: In dying Mr. Lapaine, Prefect of Pyrenese Orientales, left Mr. Gaston de la Blanche, his chief of staff, unemployed. This young man had been proposed for a long time for the Prefect's Committee, please allow me to ask you to grant him your personal attention. He belongs to an honourable family of the Loire region to which I have a real interest and I would be very grateful if you would take his candidacy into consideration. A thousand friendships Perriguy]

For a historian, especially of the second French Empire under Napoleon III, this little note is an interesting glimpse into the workings of the French bureaucracy and the role of personal relationships – not unlike today.

This small note measures 5.25 inches by 3.5 inches. It is a 4-page note card with the note itself occupying a page and a half. The card is embossed with a family crest. The paper is in very good condition and the handwriting is legible.